This whole thing made me think of JK Rowlings character Voldemort. In the pursuit of power he lost everything, including his own soul.

By the way, I think you were probably right that at least partially there was a tendency in me to think that our cult and cult leader were not as bad as some of the others. Not that I really know much about them. I haven't watched all of those Netflix series. I wasn't interested in the lurid drama. 

Well, that wishful thinking is now gone. I used to be able to joke about our cult and silly cult leader. I can't do that anymore.

We can only weep for the victims now and hope this will finally come to an end and justice will prevail in some form.